November 8, 2014

 

(6-10-2, 2-7-0)     1 2 OT1 OT2 F  Lafayette 0 0 0 1 1 Loyola 0 0 0 0 0 Box Score (5-8-4, 2-5-2)  

 

EASTON, Pa. - Senior Ryan Dodds converted on a penalty kick in the 102^nd minute to send the Lafayette men's soccer team into its offseason with a season-ending 1-0 victory over Loyola on Saturday night at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.

Working on the right side of the box less than two minutes into the second overtime session of a scoreless contest, junior Eric West made a cut toward the middle and was taken down inside the box, setting up a penalty kick. On senior night, it was only fitting that Dodds was called upon for the gamewinner from the spot. Finishing off his final game in the Maroon and White, he sent a powerful shot to the left side of Loyola goalkeeper Matt Sanchez that was never in doubt.

Dodds' finish ended the 2014 campaign for Lafayette with a 6-10-2 overall record and a 2-7 mark in conference play. Prior to the contest, Dodds and fellow seniors David Root, Sandy Leavy, Alec Golini, Tom McCutcheon, Chandler Fraser-Pauls and Julian Plummer were honored for their contributions to the program.

The game was a defensive affair for the majority as Lafayette mustered a pair of solid scoring chances and Loyola added one of their own in regulation for the only looks at goal.

The first scoring chance came in the 29^th minute when junior Nate Arronson came in off the bench and immediately made an impact. Arronson, working through the middle of the field, sent a powerful shot toward the top right corner of the goal from the edge of the Loyola box. Sanchez dove to his left and was just able to get a hand on the shot to send it up over the bar.

Just a minute later, Lafayette looked as if Sanchez's stop was just temporary when it tested the Loyola keeper again. Off a set piece on a corner, McCutcheon flicked it back across the top of the box for sophomore Ryan Egan, who sent a long, dipping ball toward the right side of goal. Sanchez, again diving to his left, got a hand on it and sent the ball off the corner of the frame and out.

The game moved into the second half and with just over an hour played, Loyola finally threatened Leavy. Off a corner and the ball being pinballed around the box, the Greyhounds' Joseph Cahalan settled it and sent a rocket off the crossbar.

To overtime it went and neither team were able to break the other's defensive unit in the opening 10 minutes, with just two shots recorded, both by Loyola. Just 1:27 into the second extra session, the time finally came and Dodds took full advantage.

Lafayette led the way in shots, 10-8 and corner-kick opportunities, 3-2. Leavy posted two saves in 91:48 of game action, while Root, who played his only minutes of his collegiate career at the start of the second half, did not make a save or allow a goal in 9:40 played. Loyola's Matt Sanchez recorded three saves on the night.

Loyola, also playing its final game of the season, finished up the year with a 5-8-4 mark and a 2-5-2 record in conference action.